![Hon. Festus Keyamo SAN arrives MMIA past 11:50 p.m. Feb 23 to lead oversight of Terminal 1 fire. Joined FAAN MD & team actively managing situation. Directed morning inspection Tuesday to guide restoration & confirm safety standards. Reaffirmed focus on passenger safety. Story: [link] #KeyamoMMIA #FireIncident #FAAN](https://fullcliphq.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/mym-150x150.jpg "MMIA Fire: Keyamo Inspects Lagos Airport After Terminal 1 Blaze Disrupts Flights")
Manchester City claimed the 2026 Emirates FA Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the final at Wembley Stadium, extending their trophy haul under Pep Guardiola and keeping alive hopes of a domestic treble.
The decisive moment came in the 71st minute through a moment of instinctive brilliance from summer signing Antoine Semenyo, whose audacious backheel flick proved enough to separate two Premier League heavyweights in a contest of high tension and limited clear opportunities.
The game had been widely anticipated as a showdown between established powers, with City entering as favourites following their earlier Carabao Cup success. Chelsea, navigating a period of managerial uncertainty with an interim coach in place, rose to the occasion and matched their opponents for long spells. Yet they ultimately lacked the cutting edge required to breach a disciplined City defence, while goalkeeper James Trafford was seldom called into meaningful action.
City’s back four, anchored by Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guéhi, remained resolute throughout, repelling Chelsea pressure and seeing off two penalty appeals that were correctly dismissed by the referee. The contest remained goalless until the second half when Semenyo produced a finish that instantly drew comparisons to some of the great individual moments in cup final history. The build-up began with Erling Haaland, who had earlier been denied what appeared to be a tap-in by an offside flag.
The Norwegian forward turned sharply away from Wesley Fofana around 30 yards from goal before sliding a precise pass to Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese midfielder returned the ball first time, allowing Haaland to deliver a low, driven cross towards the near post.
Semenyo, arriving with impeccable timing, controlled the ball and, in one fluid motion, backheeled it behind his standing leg, sending it curling beyond the reach of goalkeeper Robert Sánchez and into the far corner of the net.
For the 26-year-old Ghanaian international, wearing the No 42 shirt, it represented a defining highlight in what has been a transformative first season at the club. Signed from Bournemouth in January, Semenyo has already contributed eight goals in just 20 appearances and lifted his first major trophy in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal earlier this year.
Guardiola fielded a strong yet rotated side focused on control and balance. The starting line-up featured Trafford in goal, with Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi and O’Reilly forming the defensive unit. Rodri and Bernardo Silva anchored midfield, while Semenyo, Omar Marmoush, Jeremy Doku and Haaland provided the attacking threat.
City’s ability to retain possession and frustrate Chelsea in the final quarter of the match proved decisive. Enzo Fernández sent a late effort over the bar, and Matheus Nunes struck the post with a deflected shot, but the scoreline remained intact.
The victory brought City level with Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham on eight FA Cup titles each, placing them behind only Arsenal and Manchester United in the all-time list. For Guardiola, the triumph adds another piece of silverware to a remarkable decade at the club and maintains the team’s pursuit of a domestic treble.
City remain firmly in contention for the Premier League title as the season enters its decisive phase. Chelsea, meanwhile, must reflect on a campaign marked by inconsistency and transitional challenges, though their fans could take pride in a committed performance against the reigning champions.